Locking device for blast furnace cooling plates



May 25, 1965 E. T. PATTON LOCKING DEVICE FOR BLAST FURNACE CC JOLING PLATES F iled Oct. 28, 1963 HH 2.: 24 I9 2/ J HHHI INVENTOR. EDWARD 7. PATTON A I rorney United States Patent "ice 3,185,465 LOCKING DEVICE FOR BLAST FURNACE COOLING PLATES Edward T. Patton, Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pa. Middle Road, Levittown, Pa.) Filed Oct. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 319,448 3 Claims. (Cl. 266-32) This invention relates to an improved device for locking a cooling plate in the wall of a blast furnace stack.

conventionally the wall of a blast furnace stack includes an outer steel shell, a refractory lining, and a large number of cooling plates embedded in the lining. Each cooling plate includes a hollow metal body, preferably copper, which has inlet and outlet connections for circulating a stream of water through the plate. The outer end of each plate is locked to the shell. The thickness of the lining varies at different heights, while the inner ends of all cooling plates are positioned the same distance from the inside face of the lining. Since all the cooling plates customarily are of the same length, it is necessary for the locking device to allow the outer ends of the plates to be positioned differently with respect to the shell. Reference can be made to Anderson et a1. Patent No. 2,722,412 for a more extended discussion of the problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved locking device of simplified construction which enables a cooling plate to be installed or replaced readily, yet allows for necessary variations in the position of its outer end.

A more specific object is to provide an improved locking device of the foregoing type which comprises simply a clip angle removably bolted to a conventional plate holder and a second angle welded to the first and engaging the outer end of the plate, the position of the second angle being determined by the relative distance the plate projects from the shell.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of the wall of a blast furnace stack equipped with a locking device in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on line II--II of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a section similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the outer end of the cooling plate in a different position.

The drawing shows a small portion of a conventional stack wall which includes a steel shell 10, a refractory lining 12, and a large number of cooling plates 13 embedded in the lining and spaced at regular intervals. For each plate the shell has a horizontally elongated rounded opening 14 in which a holder 15 is mounted. This holder has an inwardly projecting flange 16 and a plurality of vertically elongated slots 17 which receive bolts for attaching the holder to the shell. The elongation of slots 17 enables the shell and lining to expand differentially as the furnace is heated.

In accordance with my invention, I weld an outwardly projecting screw-threaded stud 18 to holder 15 a short distance above the top of the cooling plate 13. I mount a first clip angle 19 on stud 18. The vertical leg of this angle has an oversize opening 20 to receive the stud. I

3,185,465 Patented May 25, 1965 place a nut 21 and a washer 22 on the stud over the angle. I place the vertical leg of a second clip angle 23 against the outer end of the cooling plate. The horizontal leg of angle 23 bears against the underside of the horizontal leg of angle 19. The relative position of angle 23 varies depending on the distance which the cooling plate projects from the shell. FIGURE 2 shows the position for a cooling plate which projects a relatively long distance, and FIGURE 3 a shorter distance. After properly positioning the parts, I weld the second angle 23 to the first angle 19, as indicated at 24 in FIGURE 2 or 24a in FIG- URE 3. I may also tack weld washer 22 to angle 19, as indicated at 25.

To remove a cooling plate 13, I unscrew nut 21 and remove angles 19 and 23 and washer 22 as a unit. I can then Withdraw the cooling plate and replace it, after which I replace the angles and washer. After I once install the device, there is no further welding. Whenever I replace a plate, the relative position of the outer end remains the same; hence the assembled angle unit is in proper relation for the plate.

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affords an extremely simple device for positively locking a cooling plate to the shell of a blast furnace. The only welding required in the field is in the initial installation to attach the stud 18, Washer 22 and angle 23. One design of locking device is sufficient for cooling plates in a large number of locations, where the distances the plate project vary substantially.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifica tions may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a furnace wall which includes an outer steel shell, a refractory lining, and cooling plates embedded in said lining, said shell having openings through which the outer ends of said plates project varying distances, the combination therewith of devices locking said plates to said shell, each of said devices comprising a first clip angle having horizontal and vertical legs, means removably fixing said vertical leg to said shell adjacent one of said openings, and a second clip angle having horizontal and vertical legs, the vertical leg of said second angle abutting the outer end of said plate, the horizontal leg of said second angle being welded to the horizontal leg of said first angle at a location which varies with the distance the plate projects from the shell, said angles being removable as a unit to enable the plate to be removed and replaced.

2. In a furnace wall which includes an outer steel shell, a refractory lining, cooling plates embedded in said lining, said shell having openings through which said plates project varying distances, and plate holders mounted on said shell and having flanges projecting inwardly through said openings and receiving the respective plates, the combination therewith of devices locking said plates to said shell, each of said devices comprising a stud fixed to the respective plate holder above the flange thereof, a first clip angle having horizontal and vertical legs, means removably attaching said vertical leg to said stud, and a second clip angle having horizontal and vertical legs, the vertical leg of said second angle abutting the outer end of said plate, the horizontal leg of said second angle being welded to the horizontal leg of said first angle at a location which varies with the distance the plate projects from the shell, said angles being removable as a unit to enable the plate to be removed and replaced.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which the vertical leg of said first angle has an oversized opening receiving said stud, and the means removably attaching this leg to the stud includes a washer received on the stud and welded to the leg and a nut threadedly engaged with the stud.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 678,743 7/01 Kennedy 266-32 1,647,041 10/27 Gerwig 122-6 1,703,519 2/29 Dovel 266--32 X 2,722,412 11/55 Anderson et a1. 266-32 MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner. JAMES H. TAYLOR, 111., Examiner. 

1. IN A FURNACE WALL WHICH INCLUDES AN OUTER STEEL SHELL, A REFRACTORY LINING, AND COOLING PLATES EMBEDDED IN SAID LINING, SAID SHELL HAVING OPENINGS THROUGH WHICH THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID PLATES PROJECT VARYING DISTANCES, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF DEVICES LOCKING SAID PLATES TO SAID SHELL, EACH OF SAID DEVICES COMPRISING A FIRST CLIP ANGLE HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LEGS, MEANS REMOVABLY FIXING SAID VERTICAL LEG TO SAID SHELL ADJACENT ONE OF SAID OPENINGS, AND A SECOND CLIP ANGLE HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LEGS, THE VERTICAL LEG OF SAID SECOND ANGLE ABUTTING THE OUTER END OF SAID PLATE, THE HORIZONTAL LEG OF SAID SECOND ANGLE BEING WELDED TO THE HORIZONTAL LEG OF SAID FIRST ANGLE AT A LOCATION WHICH VARIES WITH THE DISTANCE THE PLATE PROJECTS FROM THE SHELL, SAID ANGLES BEING REMOVABLE AS A UNIT TO ENABLE THE PLATE TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. 